Microsoft Internet Explorer 6

Web Site: www.microsoft.com/windows/ie
System Requirements: 233MHz CPU; 32MB RAM; Windows 98/Me/2K/XP
License: Free

Internet Explorer is the Web's most popular browser, and it's the best one Microsoft has ever released. More stable, with better error reporting as well. It helps you to print, save and email pictures you find on the Web. It also has new media and search features that make finding information and experience online audio and video easier than ever before.

Microsoft DirectX 9

Web Site: www.microsoft.com/directx
Operating System: Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP
License: Free

The latest version of Microsoft's DirectX technology. DirectX is a group of technologies designed to make Windows-based computers an ideal platform for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements such as full-color graphics, video, 3D animation, and rich audio. DirectX 9.0 includes security and performance updates, along with many new features across all technologies, which can be accessed by applications using the DirectX 9.0 APIs.

Windows 95 is not supported by DirectX 9. You will need to stick with DirectX v 8.0b.

DirectX v8.0b for Windows 95 only

DirectX v9 for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP

 

Microsoft Media Player 9 Series

Web Site: www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/
Operating System: Windows 98, 98SE, ME, Windows 2000, XP
System Requirements: Pentium 166 megahertz (MHz) processor (Pentium or AMD Athlon K6 266 MHz processor or faster recommended); 32 MB RAM (64 Recomended); 28.8-kilobits per second (Kbps) modem (56-Kbps modem recommended); 16-bit sound card; 256-color video card (24-bit true color video card recommended)
License: Free

Enjoy fast and flexible music and video playback with Windows Media Player 9 Series. Over 120 new features including Fast Streaming for instant-on playback, and Mini-player mode make this the best player yet. The latest version for Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, and best experienced with Windows XP!

for Windows XP

for Windows 98SE/ME/2000

This version of media player does not support older versions of Windows 95, 98 (original release) or NT.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Web Site: www.adobe.com
Operating System: Windows95 OSR 2.0, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or 6, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
System Requirements: Intel Pentium processor; 32 MB of RAM (64 MB recommended); 150 MB of available hard-disk space; Additional 70 MB of hard-disk space for Asian fonts (optional); CD-ROM drive; Internet Explorer 4.0.1 or later required for Windows NT users
License: Free

Acrobat PDF files are the Web's version of electronic paper. Many documents are saved as PDFs to preserve the layout and fonts of the original document. When you view PDFs on screen, or print them on paper, they look exactly as the author intended. For this reason, Acrobat PDF files are very popular, and to read them, you need this program.

Winzip 8.1

Web Site: www.winzip.com
Operating System: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
System Requirements: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP
License: 21 day evaluation. $29 US to register

As many of the Web's best downloads are saved as ZIP files to save space and make them quicker to download, it's essential to have a program that can open and close them. WinZip is the Web's most popular zipping utility, and comes with an easy-to-use Wizard to make zipping and unzipping easy.